Continuous yarn winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus are disclosed for transferring yarn from a completed yarn package to an empty reel in a continuous yarn winding process whereby a plurality of yarn winding arbors are rotated around a centrally located drive roller. Rotation is caused by interaction of spring tensioned arbors along a cam guide which positions the arbors relative to the drive roller.

PATENTED SE83 1 I974 SHEEI 10F 4 v INVENTOR.

ROGER H. FINK Y I fiw w.

ATTORN PATENTEDBEB31 W 3357. 522

SHEET 30! 4 l NVEN TOR.

ROGER H. FINK ATTORNEY PATENTEDBEBB 1 1914 3.857, 522

' sum W 4 FIG. 5

RET YARN TAIL R TION CAPTURE FORMATION TURRET DETENT 38 ROTARY SOLENOIDROTARY SOLENOID v YNVENTOR ROGER H. FINK ATTORNEI i CONTINUOUS YARNWINDING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a method andapparatus for transferring yarn from a completed yarn package to anempty reel in acontinuous yarn winding process. It has become apparentin recent years that it is advantageous to maintain as nearly constantconditions as possible while processing synthetic yarns. Reasons forattempting to normalize the conditions are many and varied. For example,variations in yarn filament dimensions and crystallinity changesresulting from nonuniform tensions and pressures effect thecharacteristics of the finished yarn. Oftentimes, these characteristicchanges do not become apparent until the yarns have been implementedinto an end product. The deviations are especially amplified duringattenuation and- /or texturing operations.

Furthermore, continuous winding has the advantage of more effectiveutilization of processing machinery by increasing'output'per period oftime since downtime between doffing the packages is virtuallyeliminated.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a method andapparatus for normalization of yarn winding conditions.

A further object of this invention is to provide appa: ratus tocontinuously wind yarn in as nearly constant conditions as possible tominimize yarn processing deviations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method oftransferring yarn from a completed package of predetermined size to anempty reel in a continuous yarn winding process.

There have been numerous proposals for achieving continuous winding,involving complicated cam and gear arrangements and various othertransfer mechanisms. The present invention incorporates simple, provenmechanical elements to effect a durable and reliable continuous windingapparatus. Utilization is made of a central peripheral nip-drive rollerto which a series of yarn winding arbors are sequentially brought intocontact. The yarn winding arbors are attached to a rotatable turretmounted on the winding frame concentric with the drive roller. Thespacial relationship of the arbors to the drive roller is determined bya cam guide attached to the frame of the apparatus. Means are providedfor restraining yarn from being traversed by a conventional yarn packageforming traverse means upon completion of a yarn package disengaging theyarn from the completed package, winding a number of loops for transfertail purposes on an arbor brought into contact with the drive roller,and then reengaging the traversing mechanism to begin winding a newpackage. Further means are provided for disengaging the completedpackage from the drive roller in preparation for doffing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 5 describes the multiple functionprogram timing sequence. 7

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seenthat the winding mechanismchosen for purposes of illustration includes as components thereof, anequipment frame 21, a turret 22 with moveable rotatable windup arbors 23through 26, a drive roller 32 concentrically located with said turret22, a reciprocating traverse guide 33 through which yarn 48 advances:between drive roller 32, and package 34 on arbor 23, a yarn deflectingdevice 41, and a multiple function programmer 37. The turret 22comprises a rim 60 attached to a hub 61 by a series of spokes asrepresented by 46 and 47. The spokes act as windup arbor guides as shownin FIG. 1.

In operation, when package 34 has reached a predetermined size, limitswitch 36 is tripped, actuating multiple function programmer 37.Programmer 37 may consist of any number of types of conventional. timingdevices for actuating the various elements to be explained herein. Uponactuation by limit switch 36, programmer 37 activates detent solenoid38which pulls cam rod 42 from its locking detent position and allowsturret 22 to be rotated. Rotation is produced by the in teraction of camguide 43 and arbor 24, said arbor 24 being pulled toward the driveroller 32 by means of springs 44 and 45 along arbor guides 46 and 47, tobe more fully explained. Rotational movement is also enhanced by theweight of package 34 producing a moment force acting upon turret 22around the driver roller 32. Simultaneously, arbor 24 is being broughtinto a ready position for receiving yarn 48.

Package 34 remains in contact with drive roller 32 until arbor 24 withempty package support reel 28 is brought into position, brought up tospeed, and yarn 48 is deflected by yarn deflecting guide 41 (shown herein normal running position) to reel 28. Package 34 is then disengagedfrom the drive roller and made ready for doffing.

In FIG. 3, yarn 48 is shown passing through traversing mechanism 33 overdrive roller 32 onto package 34 in its rotated position. Arbor 24, withits empty package support reel 28, is in contact with drive roller 32.The yarn deflecting guide is shown in its extended position, denoted 41with an intermediate position denoted by the broken outline 41 in normalrunning position denoted 41. As turret 22 (FIG. 1) rotates about thedrive roller 32, package support reel 28 comes into contact with driveroller 32. Programmer 37 then activates rotary solenoid device 51,bringing yarn deflection guide 41 into its intermediate position 41'. Asyarn 48, being guided by traversing mechanism 33, approaches thedeflection guide 41 it slides over edge 53 and falls into notch 54,which restrains movement along package 34. Programmer 37 then actuatesrotary solenoid device 52, rotating the deflection guide to its extendedposition 41", carrying the yarn 48 upward and into the path of yarnsnaring device 55 located on arbor 24. Simultaneously, the yarn isguided onto package 34 by cutter guide 56. As the yarn crosses into thepath of yarn snaring device 55, it is caught and the resulting tensionin yarn 48 from the rotational pull of package 34 and the snaring device55 causes the yarn to be carried to surface 57 of cutter guide 56. Theyarn deflection guide remains in its extended position 41' while anumber of convolutions of the yarn are formed on arbor 24 to form a tailfor the package to be formed on support .reel 28. Programmer 37 thende-activates versing mechanism 33 begins feeding the yarn 48 directlyonto package support reel 28.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between cam guide 43 and arbor 24. Whendetent cam rod 42 (FIG. 1) is retracted, roller 62 on arbor 25 is urgedfrom detent notch 63 in cam guide 43. The tangential component of theinteracting force caused by springs 44 and 45 acting at point 58 betweenarbor 24 and cam guide 43 initiates rotation of turret 22 in acounterclockwise direction, while the radial component of this forcepulls arbor 24 and package support tube 28 along guides 46 and 47 (seeFIG. 1) and into contact with drive roller 32. Furthermore, as fullpackage 34 is rotated from its top dead center position, it adds anadditional rotation producing torque on turret 22. When rotation hasbeen completed, full package 34 and empty package support tube 28 are incontact with drive roller 32, ready for transfer of yarn.

FIG. illustrates the timing sequence of multiple .function programmer37. When limit switch 26 has actuated programmer 37, said' programmeractivates turret detent solenoid 28 for a sufficient amount of time toallow rotation of turret 22 through 90. Rotary solenoid 51 is thenactivated for a length of time sufficient to capture yarn 48 during astroke of the traversing mechanism 33. Both rotary solenoids 51 and 52are actuated for the time required to transfer yarn to arbor 24, severethe yarn, and form a tail on said arbor.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuous yarn winding apparatus comprising a frame, anincrementally rotatable turret attached to said frame by a hub andseries of spokes; an arbor driving roller attached to said frameconcentric to the turret; first and second yarn winding arbors slidablyattached to said spokes to move in and out of engagement with said arbordriving roller; yarn traversing means adjacent said driving roller fordepositing yarn from a yarn supply onto the winding arbors to form ayarn package; spring means for urging the winding arbors toward said huband into engagement with said arbor driving roller; a cam guide havingan arbor engaging face continuous through the rotational increment ofthe turret from an outermost position of the second winding arbor to aposition adjacent said driving roller the interaction of the cam guideand spring means tending to cause rotation of the turret around thearbor driving roller while simultaneously guiding the second windingarbor along the spokes and into contact with the arbor driving rollers;turret detent means for restraining rotation of the turret with saidsecond yarn winding arbor in the outermost position until a yarn packagehas been formed on said first yarn winding arbor; and means fortransferring yarn from the yarn traversingmeans to the second yarnwinding arbor after it has engaged the driving roller.

2. The continuous yarn winding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said meansfor transferring yarn comprises, a yarn deflecting arm rotatably mountedon said frame and movable into the part of the yarn being wound ontosaid first'yarn winding arbor from said yarn traversing means; a firstrotary solinoid device for rotating, when actuated, said yarn deflectingarm to an intermediate position, restraining the yarn from saidtraversing means; a second rotary solinoid device for further rotating,when actuated, said yarn deflecting arm into an extended position todivert said yarn to the second yarn winding arbor.

1. A continuous yarn winding apparatus comprising a frame, anincrementally rotatable turret attached to said frame by a hub andseries of spokes; an arbor driving roller attached to said frameconcentric to the turret; first and second yarn winding arbors slidablyattached to said spokes to move in and out of engagement with said arbordriving roller; yarn traversing means adjacent said driving roller fordepositing yarn from a yarn supply onto the winding arbors to form ayarn package; spring means for urging the winding arbors toward said huband into engagement with said arbor driving roller; a cam guide havingan arbor engaging face continuous through the rotational increment ofthe turret from an outermost position of the second winding arbor to aposition adjacent said driving roller the interaction of the cam guideand spring means tending to cause rotation of the turret around thearbor driving roller while simultaneously guiding the second windingarbor along the spokes and into contact with the arbor driving rollers;turret detent means for restraining rotation of the turret with saidsecond yarn winding arbor in the outermost position until a yarn packagehas been formed on said first yarn winding arbor; and means fortransferring yarn from the yarn traversing means to the second yarnwinding arbor after it has engaged the driving roller.
 2. The continuousyarn winding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for transferringyarn comprises, a yarn deflecting arm rotatably mounted on said frameand movable into the part of the yarn being wound onto said first yarnwinding arbor from said yarn traversing means; a first rotary solinoiddevice for rotating, when actuated, said yarn deflecting arm to anintermediate position, restraining the yarn from said traversing means;a second rotary solinoid device for further rotating, when actuated,said yarn deflecting arm into an extended position to divert said yarnto the second yarn winding arbor.